soak
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
To make something very wet by leaving it in liquid, or to become very wet by absorbing liquid.
To spend a long time enjoying a relaxing bath or shower; to absorb information or an atmosphere; to charge excessively for something; to hit someone hard.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a thorough, complete, and sometimes prolonged wetting or absorption. Can be used literally (liquid) or figuratively (experiences, costs).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Soak' as a noun meaning 'a heavy drinker' is slightly more common in British English. The phrasal verb 'soak up' (sun, atmosphere) is equally common in both.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The informal sense 'to overcharge' (e.g., 'They soaked me for £50') is understood but not dominant in either.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
soak something (in something)soak something upsoak through somethingsoak in somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “soak up the sun”
- “soak it all in”
- “soak the rich”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The new tax will soak small businesses.' (overcharge/burden)
Academic
Figurative: 'Students need time to soak in the complex material.'
Everyday
Literal: 'I'll soak the dirty pans before washing them.'
Technical
Chemistry/Cooking: 'Soak the seeds in water to initiate germination.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Soak the lentils overnight before cooking.
- We sat in the garden to soak up the rare sunshine.
- My trousers were soaked through by the downpour.
American English
- Soak the beans overnight before cooking.
- Let's just soak in the hot tub for a while.
- The rain soaked my jacket completely.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'soaking' is used adverbially, e.g., 'soaking wet')
American English
- (Not standard; 'soaking' is used adverbially, e.g., 'soaking wet')
adjective
British English
- The ground was soak after the storm. (informal/regional)
- He gave the floor a soak mop. (rare, as in 'soaking')
American English
- She used a soak cycle on the washing machine. (as in 'soak' setting)
- The laundry is soak and needs wringing out. (informal/regional)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please soak this dirty plate in water.
- My shoes got soaked in the rain.
- You should soak the dried mushrooms before you cook them.
- We spent the afternoon soaking up the sun on the beach.
- The fabric soaked up the dye evenly, creating a vibrant colour.
- He just sat there, quietly soaking in the atmosphere of the old library.
- The new policy is designed to soak the wealthiest corporations through targeted levies.
- She allowed the criticism to soak in before formulating her response.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPONGE soaking up water – SOAK sounds like 'soak' a sponge.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS ABSORBING ('soak up information'), EXPERIENCING IS IMMERSING ('soak up the atmosphere'), EXPLOITATION IS DRENCHING ('soak the taxpayers').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for 'soak up' (sun, atmosphere). Russian might use 'греться на солнце' or 'наслаждаться атмосферой', not a verb of absorption.
- Do not confuse with 'soak' as a noun for a drunkard (собутыльник, пропойца) – this is a rarer, informal meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'soak' without an object when one is needed (e.g., 'I soaked for an hour' is unclear; specify 'I soaked *in the bath*').
- Confusing 'soak' (process) with 'sock' (clothing) in spelling/pronunciation.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The company was accused of soaking its customers,' what does 'soaking' most likely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Soak' often implies a slower, more thorough absorption of liquid, sometimes intentional. 'Drench' usually implies a sudden, thorough, and often excessive pouring of liquid onto something.
Yes, but usually with a prepositional phrase (e.g., 'soak in the bath', 'soak overnight'). Intransitive use like 'The clothes soaked' is possible but less common.
It is neutral but leans slightly informal, especially in its figurative uses ('soak up the sun', 'soak the rich'). In technical contexts (cooking, chemistry), it is standard.
It means for a liquid to penetrate completely to the other side of something. E.g., 'The rain soaked through my coat and made my shirt wet.'